Means for defrosting refrigerators



-March 30, 1937. J. A. HUSSAR MEANS FOR DEFROSTING REFRIGERATCRS Filed Oct. 14, 1935' I INVENTOR. Hqnaw 6 M W Mx ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 30, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MEANS FOR DEFROSTING REFRIGEBATOBS Julius A. Hussar, East Cleveland, Oliio Application October 14, 1935, Serial No. 44,885

4 Claims. (Cl. 62-3) This invention relates to a defrosting means for a freezing unit of a refrigerator and particularly to such a device consisting of a heating means adapted to melt off the heavy layer of ice which renders drawers, in which ice cubes are frozen, diillcult to remove from freezing compartments of such refrigerator units.

An object of the invention is to provide for heating a portion of the freezing unit adjacent the freezing compartment for enabling the drawer to be removed. A further object is to provide for rapid heating at a point to melt the ice which obstructs the drawer. A further object is to provide for a partial defrosting of a refrigerating unit by heating the same at the points of heavy ice formation only. A further object isto provide a control means for the heater whereby I it may be manually turned on and will bexautomatically turned off. A still further object'yis to provide a signal to indicate when the heater has been turned off.

With the foregoing and other and more limited objects in view, the invention consists in all the novel features of construction and arrangements of parts herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which, Fig. l is an elevation partly in section of a device embodying my invention; and Fig. 2 is a wiring diagram and detail perspective of a drawer and'heating unit thereof. I

In the drawing, the numeral l0 indicates a refrigerator of usual construction to which my invention has been applied. This device includes the usual door ii and freezing unit I 2, receiving a drawer l2. Surrounding the mouth of the freezing compartment which receives the drawer I2 is a heater H which also has rearwardly extending portions it running along the. region where thick ice forms. The regions of thickest ice formation may vary with different refrigerator constructions; and it is within the contemplation of my invention to position the elements IQ adjacent thereto wherever they occur.

Current may be supplied through a door switch It so that the heater can operate only when the door is closed thus insuring against excessive loss of cold air from the storage space. The heater may be energized through conductors II to 22 inclusive and through switch 23 which may be manually set by reason of the lost motion link 24. A heat expansible control element 25 operates through the lever 28 and the link 24 to turn of! the switch 22 after sufllcient heating has been accomplished. The element 25 also operates through a lever 21 and lost motion link 28 to close switch 29, when it opens switch 23, thus energizing a signal lamp 30 to indicate that the drawer I! may be withdrawn. The lamp II is energized through conductors ll, ll, ii, 32 and 32.

The heat expansible element 25 is operated by a resistance heater 34 energized through conductors i1, 35, 38, 2i and 22, thus being controlled by the switch 23 and energized and deenergized concurrently with the heater M. Suitable adjustments may be made so that the control elements will operate after a suitable amount of heating by the heater I 4. If desired, the signal lamp may be turned on a little in advance of the deenergization of the heater since the exertion of a little force might result in dislodging the ice a little earlier than it would be desirable to have the heater turned off. The door switch it is optional, and may even be used for the purpose of preventing use of the heater it when the door is open.

My defrosting means may also be utilized for more general defrosting purposes by repeating the cycle described hereinbefore at closely recurring intervals, which can be eflected by means of the switch 22.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I wish it understood that I am not limited to the details shown and described but only in accordance with the appended claims and the prior art.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination,in a refrigerator, a refrigerating unit including a freezing compartment, a heater adjacent the mouth of said compartment, means for energizing saidheater, manual means for rendering said energizing means effective to energize said heater, automatic means for later rendering said energizing means ineffective, signal means, and means for operating said signal means substantially contemporaneously with the operation of said automatic means.

2. In combination, in a refrigerator, a refrigerating unit including a freezing compartment and defrosting means comprising a heater associated with said freezing compartment, means for energizing said heater, manual means for rendering said energizing means effective to energize said heater, automatic means for later rendering said energizing means ineffective, signal means, and means for operating said signal means substantially contemporaneously with the operation of said automatic means.

3. The combination, in a refrigerator, of defrosting means comprising an electric heater, an electric circuit including said heater. a thermostat in said circuit. a manually closable switch in said circuit. connections between the said thermostat and the said switch tor opening the switch when the temperature to which the thermostat is subjected reaches a predetermined limit, signal means, and means for operating said signal means substantially contemporaneously 10 with the openins 0! said switch. 

